Village Council race heats up

With just two weeks to go before the Aug. 5 filling deadline, seven villagers have thrown their hats in the ring for three open seats on Village Council in the Nov. 3 elections.

Those interested in running for open seats on Council, Yellow Springs Board of Education and Miami Township Trustees and for the positions of mayor and Township clerk need to take out a petition from the Greene County Board of Elections in Xenia, and return it by Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 4 p.m. Council candidates are required to gather the signatures of 1 percent of the electorate, or 31 voters; school board candidates need 25 signatures, and Township trustee candidates also need 25 signatures to qualify.

In the past two weeks several new faces have joined the race for the three open seats on Council. The newcomers who have taken out petitions are Adam Abraham, the Americorps VISTA volunteer of the local affordable housing group, Home, Inc.; Chrissy Cruz, a local baker and member of the Human Relations Commission, or HRC; former Council President Judith Hempfling; Steve McQueen, a member of HRC; and Dean Pallota, the owner of Dino’s Cappucinos, who took out a petition but stated this week that he has not yet decided to run. The newcomers join Talis Gage, also known as Talis X, a local landscaper and activist, who previously announced his intention to run.

Also running for Council are incumbent Gerry Simms, who has served one four-year term on Council and filed his petition; and incumbent Marianne MacQueen, who has served one two-year term and recently took out a petition. The third open seat currently belongs to Council Vice President Lori Askeland, who announced she will not seek office again.

The race for school board is far less crowded, with only two candidates so far for two open seats. Sean Creighton, currently serving his second four-year term on the board, has taken out a petition and announced his intention to run; and Sylvia Ellison, who is serving her first four-year term, has also taken out a petition.

So far, three candidates have announced their intention to run for two open seats on the Miami Township Board of Trustees. Longtime Trustee Chris Mucher, who is seeking his fifth full four-year term, has filed a petition, as has newcomer Zo Van Eaton Meister. Lamar Spracklen, appointed last year to fill the seat of the late John Eastman, has filed to seek the two-year seat that completes Eastman’s term.

Longtime mayor David Foubert is so far unopposed in his campaign for a 13th two-year term as Yellow Springs mayor. And current Township Clerk Margaret Silliman has filed a petition to run for the position again.